P-Town introduces the 72cc Sachs MadAss

(The MadAss is finally getting a much needed kick in the pants)

Jim, over at P-Town Scooters, has posted the first photos of the Sachs MadAss with 72cc kit. The $340 kit includes air filter, front sprocket, carburetor, exhaust manifold, head, sleeve, piston, gaskets & sparkplug. Currently the expected results are more heat off the line, better hill climbing and a sustained top speed of 45 MPH. Not bad, not bad.

We'll see what the boys over at P-Town give it as a final verdict in the next week or two.
Thanks for the scoop guys! (Click on the title link to see the kit on the table and a close up of the kitted engine.)

PS> Don't look for the 125cc version of the MadAss anytime soon. Still trying to get the details from Tomberlin. I'll have to try by phone, cause my emails appear to be falling right into the 'ignore' bucket right now.

India reports on Autorickshaw's popularity, in AMERICA

(it's not hideous enough stock... Polka dots and teal top help.)

This from the Newindpress website:

Sunanda Mehta -
India’s inspiring imports to the West are no more restricted to beauty queens, Bollywood, bindis, bangles and brocades.Even something as unstylish and quotidian as an autorickshaw has started to make a style statement.

Check out Florida’s Ronald Flynn’s latest passion for instance. Every time the debonair 73-year old makes his weekly trip to the grocery store, he invites looks that are a mix of amusement and amazement. And it’s all because the retired flight control despatcher for Federal Express makes those short drives in a bright red coloured autorickshaw that he drives himself. Incidentally, this Barefoot Bay resident also owns a Chevy and Cadillac.

The response to what we thought were modest machines have been far more flattering than what they have ever received in the country of their origin. Parker Bowles termed the polka dotted version of the vehicle she traveled in as the “coolest thing to drive in the summers”.

“I love driving the autorickshaw around even if people react with a ‘What the hell is that?’ I realise that in India it’s used for business but I have great fun with it,” says the man who had gone looking for a scooter online but then decided on the autorickshaw when he chanced upon it on the net.

So, are these great Indian imports slated to sweep over the Western world? In other words, are they set to replace the Ambassador as an unmistakable stereotype of India?

Adil Darukhanwalla, editor, Car India says: “The Ambassador was a symbol of India but it was never a success abroad. Foreigners in fact were quite horrified by the shape and size of it. The autorickshaw is obviously much more popular.’’ Baja Auto executive director Sanjeev Bajaj voices his doubts, saying: “Basically, these vehicles are for third world countries.’’

Though dealers in Florida are reluctant to reveal the sales figures of these vehicles that started being imported to the US just two years ago, Ponniah is brimming over with confidence about the fleet he imported. He also agrees that for many, the autorickshaw is an unmistakable symbol of India. “Everyone here comments on how it reminds them of India,” he says.

Well, be warned: There may be much more to the statement than meets the eye. For, according to latest reports, the autos have apparently started to imitate yet another typically Indian quality—unpunctuality. Hauled up by the British administration for often being late, the autos have to now apparently answer a quasi-legal enquiry into their timings.

The $40 Lammy burn-out

I say that because he's gonna need a new tire after that.

A little Friday morning scooter stunt action Pt.I

If you've been around scooters in the websphere for any amount of time you would have heard the name S.I.P. If you're REAL hardcore, you may have even ordered something from them and paid the outrageous shipping from Germany to the US. Anyway check out their sponsored stunt team SL Freestyle. Video 1/2

A little Friday morning scooter stunt action Pt.II

If you've been around scooters in the websphere for any amount of time you would have heard the name S.I.P. If you're REAL hardcore, you may have even ordered something from them and paid the outrageous shipping from Germany to the US. Anyway check out their sponsored stunt team SL Freestyle. Video 2/2

Sunufa!

sprintvpodre
Originally uploaded by hugojcardoso.

*tisk tisk*

Mutha!

DSC00105.jpg
Originally uploaded by xserveg5.

Not good.

Damn!

Ouch !
Originally uploaded by THEfunkyman.

This sux.

Buddy rider rolls with a tough crowd.

(Keys and Dan-Knee born to be wild. Dan-Knee's got balls to pose next to a scooter, eh?)

Haha! That's great! Here we see Keys posing with his new Genuine Buddy and a sea of chrome, leather and denim. What's a scooter doing at a Harley Rally???

Keys was just doing his part to help with the Harley "Toys for Tots" poker run and rally this past Saturday, Sept. 23rd at the casino in Camp Verde, AZ.

Keys goes on to say, as we would have imagined, that he "was the ONLY scooterist in attendance."

Keep tabs on Keys' other zany Buddy adventures by checking into his Blog every now and again.

Cheers to you Keys! Good to have you representing scooters for us!

Leia is back on the road!

Well, went by Chris' last night with the rest of the crew so we could truck her back home. Come to find out, it was an issue with the fuel system. I won't say specifically what it was, but I will say that I learned something new about Vespa fuel gages. You can trust them to tell you how much is in your tank like you can trust a crackhead to rejet your carb.

Anyway, glad to know it was an easy fix. See ya in San Antonio!

Hedious Vespomination!

_MG_8077.jpg
Originally uploaded by maggfoto.

A front wheel drive Vespa!? What monster would create such a thing? Cleat pointed this out to me just a few minutes ago. Don't know how I missed it. I think subconsciously I didn't actually want to know such a thing existed.

Of course, I'm just foolin' around. Bravo to (the guy in the beard) for building this.... thing.

Thanks to maggfoto for capturing it.

(See more photos here)

Smokin' grass

_MG_8120.jpg
Originally uploaded by maggfoto.

Fun shot maggfoto! Thanks for sharing!

Scooters in Animation / Comics

Samuel in Albany, CA brings up a good topic with the influence of Scooters in the hand rendered world. Specifically Samuel mentioned a "Japanese Anime show called FLCL where a Vespa plays a rather large role ( a Silver Pigeon makes a small appearance)"... In it the main character, Nandaba Naota, rides a Yellow Vespa as seen here (purchased as a toy here).



There's also You're Under Arrest, which features Natsumi Tsujimoto riding a Honda Motocompo seen here, but can be purchased as a toy too.


Don't forget Scooter Girl with hip kids on Vespas and Lambrettas.


Then, when you start digging deeper in to the Anime world, you start realizing EVERYBODY rides a scooter... ok, I exaggerate... but there's lots. Witch Hunter Robin rides a Vespa, Honey and Clover features a Vespa, Gintama Vespa, etc. ad nauseum.

There was one Anime scooter I remember seeing that was not based on a real scooter, but it had a real nice look to it. Would make a nice "real world" scooter. I'll post it here if I find it again.

Can you think of some more I'm missing here?

Good fun!

IMG_0599
Originally uploaded by geekfacesrus.

This shot just looked like a great time. A brisk day of Family / Friends, on clean Yammy Zumas, in the woods, camping.

I could stand for a week of that.

Thanks to geekfacesrus for posting this photo of Kev and Elaine! It added some serenity to my day and helps to wash away the image from the previous post.

Billy Lane charged with DUI Manslaughter

(Photo: Kathleen Hinkel, FLORIDA TODAY)

Thanks to Pete for scooping us on the final chapter in this story. You can click on the title link for the whole news report, but it is summed up with:

Billy Lane quietly surrendered to authorities Monday on charges his blood alcohol was twice the legal limit during a collision in his truck that killed a 56-year-old man on a Yamaha Scooter.

Thanks again for keeping us posted Pete! What a loss... Gerald Vernon Morelock! Scoot on to the great beyond, brother. Even though we didn't know you personally, we'll miss you man.

Steve and Leia take a romantic midnight stroll

(I couldn't fathom the thought of leaving her lying dead on the road)

Yep... tonight was the night. Leaving the Art Brut show I had my first breakdown. Whadda buzz-kill.

Didn't seem like a bad one (thank goodness). One minute I was shootin' down South Lamar nodding my head and yelling "Look at US! We formed a BAND!", the next I'm sputtering to the curb. Got her started a few more times and managed to squeeze a couple more miles out of her before she refused to go on... and so our romantic moon lit stroll began.

As luck would have it, I broke down less than a mile from one of my scoot mates, Chris, who stowed Leia in his garage and gave me a lift the rest of the way home... At 2:11 am. Cheers Chris!

I loathed the thought of having to walk Leia home the last 2 miles and couldn't BARE the thought of leaving her on the sidewalk 'till morning.

Chris says it's prolly just a carb problem. We'll take a gander at her tomorrow and see what we can fix. I should be back in business for the Rally in just under 2 weeks.

Green Scootering

CIMG0108
Originally uploaded by Brouhaha (Jonathan).

NYC's own Brouhaha snapped this example of green scootin'. Kind of nice touch really.

Not sure if it does much to absorb the blue smoke from this lammy, or that it would live longer than a day of hard riding... but it looks soothing for the time being.

Benefits to a motorcycle seating position.

Michelle on a Ducati
Originally uploaded by NoAnchovies.

Oooohhh.. NOW I see why it's better than an upright seating position. I can see Cleaveland from here. (sorry Michelle... nice bike by the way!)

Warning!

Crime in Japan
Originally uploaded by Photocapy.

Masked scooter riders waving purses will be chased by flying mad girl with lightening bolts coming from her hair!

Nice shot

Vintage Scooter
Originally uploaded by marklea.

Thought this was was a good shoot of a Mojito Custom, or as it's badged here a "Havana Custom".

Seriously off topic video

Um... I dunno. To sorta paraphrase danmanning2006
"That is even weird on weird planet"

You may wanna go back to bed after this so you can wake up and pretend it was just a weird dream. You have been warned.

Scooterist to the end.

Thirty-two year old Father-of-one, Nigel Parker (UK), was diagnosed with pseudomyxoma peritnoei , an extremely rare (one in a million) form of the disease, which spreads in the stomach.

One of Nigel's big passions in his life was his customised Lambretta scooter and he was a member of the Colchester and District Vespa and Lambretta Club.

He often went to scooter rallies around the country, including a visit to the Isle of Wight, and in a touching tribute his many friends from the club are planning to ride in unison at the front of the funeral procession on Tuesday.

His aunts Teresa Klammer and Wendy Davies, said staff at St Helena had been amazed by the strength Nigel showed to the end.

“The night before he passed away, he walked into the canteen with his brother holding him so he could get a drink, the doctors were amazed.”

Wow! Hows that for dedication? I can barely get off my arse to make a local meet-up and this guy makes it to the pub on his dying day to tip one back with his mates! Touching.

Wheels for your 2-wheeled time machine

(Not likely to come in a 10" wheel though. Sorry.)

Likely to be the most complex wheels in existence, the Involution puts any set of spinners to shame. All those gears will definitely boost your bike's performance to the equivalence of installing a flux capacitor.

Here's the syllable-packed description straight from their site:

INVOLUTION is Capricorn Cyclo-Works’ planetary gear system wheel. Incorporating a functional, yet passive planetary gear system can provide a unique decorative effect at speed. An endless combination of custom appearances can be achieved through the manipulation of system ratios, angular velocities, direction of rotation, detail machining and plating options. Balance, gyroscopic effects, frictional and inertial loads are managed through component weight (aluminum), symmetry, and equal mass distribution, even if the two sides are different. Systems can be designed for both front & rear wheels w/ either disc or perimeter braking.

Thanks to The Kneeslider for pointing 'em out.

MP3 hits us shores early '07!

(Thanks to Robie06 for snapping some great shots of the MP3 in the wild. Handbag not included.)

Well, it's official... we WILL see the MP3 very soon. In what incarnation, I'm still trying to find out, but here's what Newsweek had to say:

By Christopher Dickey
Newsweek

Sept. 18, 2006 issue - Don't ever call this beast a tricycle. The new three-wheeled motor scooter from Piaggio, due to hit American shores early next year, is like nothing you've straddled before. On an extended test-drive in and around Rome, the MP3, as it's called, ate up the cobblestones and maneuvered easily in traffic, cornered brilliantly on country roads, stayed stable even on slippery gravel, then cruised comfortably on the autostrada. At a standstill, with the press of a button it ... stands still, upright, so no need to prop yourself up with a foot on the pavement. To park, you just put on the brake. No kickstand required.

...The MP3, already on sale in Europe, should be available in the United States by early next year, at a price of about $6,500.

...George Dern, general manager of Varsity Cycles in Palm Beach, Fla., hopes the otherworldly MP3 will help Americans attain what he calls the European "wisdom" of owning a scooter for urban transportation. With gas prices so high, that's no longer such an alien concept.

A relatively flattering review is HERE.

I saw one quote that said:
"The vespa dealer in Columbus Ohio just told me the price would be around $6,100.00 with scooters arriving around January. As he put it. Budget for February."

I suspect that price is for the 125cc personally. It roughly matches what the 125cc is going for over in Europe ($3,600 UK or $6,844 US)

Ahh! And thanks to RuckusChick for pointing out the Today Show video!

UK's Big Brother "eye in the sky" busting moped riders from the comfort of their cozy office chairs

Illegal moped riders caught on CCTV
By Emma Hutchings

Two 16-year-old boys had their mopeds seized by police in Borehamwood after being caught on CCTV carrying two passengers who were not wearing helmets.

The riders and passengers were stopped in Aberford Road at 7pm on September 9, after the council's CCTV team alerted police to the potentially dangerous situation.

Although the two boys were wearing helmets and had licences and insurance, their pillion passengers did not have helmets, which is illegal.
continued...

They will have to pay £123 each to reclaim their bikes -plus a further £12 for every day they are kept in storage.

Helmets are good, but the jury on this Big Brother thing is still out. Sure I'm glad kids on mopeds are safe but I am NO fan of the EYE.

Front wheel drive moped? The VeloSolex 3800!

From 1966 to 1988 France produced the kinda sweet VeloSolex (A 3800 seen here). They were more like a bike with a build in front wheel motor than a traditional moped, but I dig 'em. Probably really rare in the USA. They topped out at around 30 KPH, so you wouldn't have to worry about getting a speeding ticket.

According to THIS site, the tooling has been recommissioned and they are back in production today for your purchasing pleasure ($895 Pounds UK).

More menacing black version seen here.

Ahhhh...Paris

Paris
Originally uploaded by Re-Lo.

They know how to ride in style, no?

Gilera Runner about to get a BIG brother!

Most scooterists are aware of the Gilera Runner. We know it's a street scorcher that ranges from 50 to 200cc AND we know that you can't easily get one here in the USA because Piaggio chooses not to distribute them over here.

That being said, Dudel has pointed out a nice scoop from French site Moto-Station.com. Seems that Gilera is indeed adding an 850 Runner to the line up! EIGHT HUNDRED FIDDY CEE CEES?!?

Is this just someone's wild fantasy??? NO! Be prepared to lay eyes upon this baby November 14th at the Milan show and possibly turn envious shades of green in 2007 when you see video of your European brethren with big 850cc smiles glued to their faces.

More as it comes available.

Tinseltown's Classiest Broad a Vespa fan?

(Hey HEY! Nice cowels!)

Clay, a fan of Angie Dickinson perhaps(?), points out that she can often been seen sitting pretty on the saddle of a classic Vespa... She can be seen in other precarious positions as well, as you'll notice if you click on the title link (mostly safe for work).

Ahhh! Now THIS is the life!

Thanks to the Honky-Tonk Dragon blog for pointing out this YouTube video. The ultimate in scooter camping!

Spiders Spiders EVERYWHERE! (Best SR 50 Paint Job EVER!)

Check out this sweeet Spiderman 2 edition Aprilia DiTech SR50! I found it over at Maxmoto.co.uk and I figure as long as we were talking about spiders I'd point this one out.



I always thought the Buell XB Hellbender looked like something Hellboy would ride... but for some reason, I never could see the Hulk riding a scooter.

Scooters Scooters EVERYWHERE! Part II

Here our favorite web-slinger is on the SpiderCiao. You didn't know Spidey had Vespa moped modding skills, eh? Check out his custom pizza launching rack on the back.

Scooters Scooters EVERYWHERE!

Timmy's timebike was a scooter. Don't know what brand, but it looks German.

WTF?! Scooter of the week

(err-ee err-ee err-ee *rubs eyes*) Well, I'm not sure who snapped this monstrosity, but if Fin Fang Foom rode a Vespa, this is probably what it would look like.

Jerry Rig? You need SMALLPARTS!

I was visiting Kevin Kelly's "Cool Tools" today (as I often do) and he mentions a nice store for your projects make-do parts called SmallParts.com . I'm sure someone out there needs a little thingamajig to get that rare Honda Gyro or Fuji Rabbit working again. This is a good place to start looking.

Scoot-A-Que 9 Rally - Columbus, Ohio

From Frenchie_B

Thought this was a good showing of the turnout at the Columbus, Ohio Scoot-A-Que 9 Rally from Frenchie_B's flickr collection. Click the title link to see it FULL size.

Special Honda Helix (Fusion) 20th Anniversary Edition

(Space... the final frontier. These are the... Erhrm! oh, sorry. That happens whenever I see the Helix) You won't see this Gold Edition Honda Helix in the USA anytime soon (or at all for that matter), but over in Japan they are celebrating big! Found out about this from our Japanese friends at BigScooter.com.

Here's a rough translation courtesy of Google:

The model "fusion SE which commemorates the birth 20 year of HONDA" fusion "20th anniversary" September 29th (the gold) from it sells. With period limitation incoming order, it accepts from 2006 September 15th to October 10th.

As 20th anniversary commemoration model private body colors, the cyber gold, setting the total 3 color of pearl cosmic black and pearl sun beam white. モカベージƒ… of the private color, gold paint is administered to the front & rear wheel in the inner panel and the seat of interior.

I willing to bet that Honda will not prove me wrong when I say "It'll never come to the USA". Wouldn't it be cool though? Especially if they crammed a 300cc engine in there, hehe.

Here's to the first quarter million hits! CHEERS!

Well, it's a bit pre-mature (par for the course in my book, hehe), but 20 hits from now we will have reached a pretty big milestone. Also, ninety-two posts from now we'll make our 1,000th post at TheScooterScoop. I hope the next quarter million hits and thousand posts are as fun as these have been. It's a lot of work trying to keep the site entertaining and up-to-date. I would have quit a year ago if I weren't so dammed passionate about the cause. Do you know the one thing that keeps that passion burning? Knowing that YOU are here because you share that same passion... and I hope you'll come back and continue reading, commenting, and sharing your passion with all of us.

Also, I wanna give a big, STOOPID shout-out to the site's supporters who have given their hard-earned money to order a TSS Support patch, a Mod Rod shirt or who have just flat-out given donations . Wear your jacket patches with pride my friends! There's more in store for 2007!

Cheers!
Steve

Vespa restoration. Only the hardcore need apply.

This sad shot looks comes from a fabulous photographer, Alberto, in Italy. It looks like a war photo. Google translates his comment as:

One old Vespa by now destroyed from the salt air of sea and the harsh sun of the island of Levanzo, in an ancient village of fishermen abandoned.

So... see anything salvageable? It's probably best kept in photos and the memories of the owner who previously coursed the island on it. Gratzi Alberto!

"Scootering grows up" or "Why are people plastic-haters?"

Whoa! An article that tries to explain the cliquishness of classic riders. It's cool to see the St.Paul Pioneer Press allowing Laura Yuen to get a little deeper than the standard "People love scooters" stories you normally see.

So, why DON'T plastic riders get the time-of-day at some meet-ups? Well, in some ways I suppose it makes sense, I mean you wouldn't want a crotch-rocket to show up at your Hog show or a mini-cooper to show up at your mud-boggin' meet-up; but that's why I like citywide "generalist" scooter clubs AND separate scooter gangs. This way, the gangs have their own "requirements" and meet-ups but everyone can still show up at the monthly generalist meet-ups to make the scene.

So, if you ride a Jialing and you wonder why you're getting the cold shoulder at the local meet-up, it might be time to start your own gang or organize your own general scooterist meet-up. Either that or start shopping for a restoration project on the side. There's nothing wrong with owning one of each! Anyway, here's a clip:

With new, easier-to-use models, scooters have had a blast of popularity in the Twin Cities. But veteran retro-geeks look askance at newbies and wonder: Whine, or welcome them?
BY LAURA YUEN
Pioneer Press

(I cut out a little bit here where it mentions Quadrophenia)
...Yet such pop-cultural references, as well as the so-called pain and frustrations of owning a vintage scooter, are often lost on the new generation of riders.

One vintage scooter club (steve: notice it says "vintage" scooter club), The Regulars, lost some of its, well, regulars after some new folks with modern vehicles appeared at the outings.

Jeremy Stomberg, 32, of Minneapolis has nothing against automatic "twist-and-go" machines, which, unlike the classics, don't require shifting gears. He just prefers the company of fellow vintage buffs, who just as breathlessly discuss the latest hard-to-find parts they've unearthed.

Even when he started scootering five years ago with a contemporary Yamaha Vino, the vintage community accepted him because he was eager to learn more about the old bikes, he said. Today, he rides a powder blue 1963 Vespa.

"It's just a thing where, if you become too welcoming, too diverse, you kind of lose the focus of why you got together in the first place," said Stomberg. "Say you have a club for people with red cars. And then you have people say, 'I don't have a red car, but I like red cars.' Well, OK. Then, 'Well, I have a blue car.' Then it becomes, 'I have an orange semi-trailer.' "

Click the title link to read the whole article.

(video of plastic haters)
(as long as we're showing videos... It's official! This guy is a F#@kin' genius. I laughed so hard that I spit on my computer. OH $#!+ !!!)

Off topic: Before we had CGI we had really good drivers

SteelCitysFinest.com says:

ISUZU GEMINI Commercial from the 80's

This is actually a combination of several ads for the 1985-1989 Isuzu Gemini that are put together. The talent it takes to perform some of the driving is phenomenal. Obviously no digital special effects were used in the making of this video.

Doodlebug celebrates 60 years (like Vespa but with a smaller cake)

(see here is the deluxe 3 wheeled model. You get a finished repro for about $3200, if you got that kinda bank)

If you wanna help eat the cake and ice cream, head over to Webster City, Iowa and check out this article from The Messenger in Fort Dodge, Iowa to get the birthday scoop:

Enthusiasts celebrate Doodlebug scooter’s 60th anniversary
By OBAID KHAWAJA, Messenger staff writer

WEBSTER CITY — Doodlebug enthusiasts got together to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the scooter Friday at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds. The reunion was organized by the Doodlebug Club of America, which is based in Webster City but has members throughout the United States.

The scooters were popular with children in the late 1940s and 1950s despite their steep price and rarity. But many who couldn’t have a Doodlebug back then are attempting to relive their youth by investing in the scooters, which can fetch $3,000 or more depending on their condition.

Tiny post: So many scooter mags so little money

If you thought ScooterWorld, Scootering, TAG, Scoot Quarterly and Scooter Rider were the only scooter mags check out this site with 36 others (including a cover from a classic issue of 2StrokeBuzz before it was an e-zine). Many of them are classic and may no long be published... but it's cool to see the variety.

Oh and if Video is your thing, a new DVD just came out. Looks fun! The audio could have used a bidda work in some parts, but looks like a good watch. Click on the link and check out the trailer.

Oh... and you can bid on the FIRST issue of Scootering Times HERE on ebay.

Helloooooo Kitty!

Whew! Well, it's actually called the "Sophia" and it's a knock-off from a Korean Company called KoreMotion (who also produces a scooter called "Halloween" which also looks like a knock-off). Right now it looks like KoreMotion has one thing going for it... a pair of long legs.

See some more shots... of the scooter, here.

Moped riders are always... a bit different

Driving Moped
Originally uploaded by gschwind01.

Shot by gschwind01 in Germany near Lake Contance.

He looks... comfortable!

Not a good trade.

I love my scooter and all... but there are some things a scooter can't replace. See this snippet from the Chandigarh Tribune:

The district of Fatehgarh Sahib holds special attention since it has the dubious distinction of having the lowest child sex ratio in Punjab of 766 girls for every 1000 boys, according to the 2001 census.

...villages like the ones in Fatehgarh Sahib, there are plenty of scooters but not enough girls.

It would suck to be a guy in Fatehgarh Sahib... To be a GIRL on the other hand... All the chocolate you can eat!

Priorities

Saw this over at motoblog.it and thought of Doctor J, our resident moped lover.

Streetracer 2

Streetracer 2
Originally uploaded by goonerman1.

Just wanted to show you Goonerman1's water cooled monstrosity. I wonder how it runs. Goonerman1?

The Scarabeo scoop from Dudel? He says it's a 750!

(no, this is a 500... but if we're lucky the 700 will look similar)

I'm not sure where Dudel get's his scoops and sometimes I'm afraid to ask... but here's the "BIG" rumor that's been circulating around the Aprilia camp:

You heard it here first. From an Aprilia rep who was recently at the factory... "The mega scooter thats been doing the rounds as a Gilera is going to be in the Aprilia 2007 line up." SCARABEO 750 for 2007 Don't know which countries.

I had heard about something big to be expected in '07 and 750cc's is definitely in that class.

Thanks Dudel! Please keep us posted. I'll do a little diggin' from my side as well.

San Antonio 3rd Cost Rally - Friday Oct 6th - Sunday Oct 8th

This is exciting! A HUGE central Texas rally is coming up in San Antonio (home of the best breakfast tacos known to man). So, get out there and register! I know we'll be there.

There are two groups riding from Austin. Let me know if you're interested in joining in and I'll do my best to get you the details. Click on the title link to go to the official rally page. Thanks to Erika for the details.

Cafe Vespa?

Vespa Cafe
Originally uploaded by SouthAfricaLogue.com.

This shot was taken in Cape-Town South Africa. Here's what SouthAfricaLogue.com has to say about it:

Taking urban chic to its outer orange extremity on upper Kloof Street, Cape Town. You can get coffee, booze and scooters in high sophisticated style here.
http://www.southafricalogue.com/cape-town/cafe-vespa-cape-town-cafe-review.html

Best Zuma paint job EVER

8-P (p9100784)
Originally uploaded by uzvards.

This paint job blew my mind. BRAVO!

Thanks to uzvards for capturing it!

Happy to commute on a scooter

(STAR-TELEGRAM/RAUL VASQUEZ

Coppell police officer Andy Wheeler fills his one-gallon tank on his LML Stella scooter on his way home Thursday. The two-stroke scooter gets about 78 miles per gallon.)

Here's a snippet from the Star-Telegram. Thanks to Clay Ehlers for pointing out the story!

By GORDON DICKSON
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER

Some drivers happily wave at Andy Wheeler when they see him on the road, while others sarcastically yell for him to "Get a car!"

Wheeler's response, in so many words: Get a clue.

The north Arlington resident commutes several days per week to his job as a Coppell police officer on a two-stroke scooter.

"I love the wind and the freedom of not being surrounded by metal," he says.

He also loves the spare change in his pocket.

By car, Wheeler's 42-mile round-trip commute costs about $6 a day -- but on the "scoot," as he calls it, the tab is only about $1.25 a day.

Click the title link to read the whole story.

Please test comments

I'm gonna try one more time to get Comments working for everybody. It seems that some people are experiencing a problem with the "word verification". I would turn OFF the verification but then my comments get SLAMMED with spam... and I hate me some spam.

Could you do me a favor and leave a comment. Just tell me what browser and version you're using like "FireFox 1.5.0.6". If you CANNOT leave a comment then select the browser you are using from the box below. This might help me narrow down the "opportunity". (at work the management refuses to use the word "problem" because of those damn Japanese management books. So, the next time I get... um... I dunno... diarrhea. I'm gonna tell my boss I have a gastro-intestinal opportunity.")

Thanks for your help!

Well smack my ass and call me Sally. The Tomos FunTastic (Arrow) IS HERE!

Larry at PhillyScooters gave me the corrective smack-down today when he told me that the FunTastic is not only scheduled for a US release BUT IT'S HERE RIGHT NOW! The only differences that were immediately evident to me was its name (here called the Arrow... which I always understood to look like this) and the addition of eyebrows on the furrowed brow of the evil Johnny 5. Here's what Larry actually said in his comment to the original post:

Hi Steve,

Actually, the MOPED is available in the US. Fun, quick little 2-speed 2-stroke. We sell 'em...

http://philadelphiascooters.blogspot.com/2006/08/naked-in-city.html

Scoot safe,
-Larry
www.phillyscooters.com

So looks like they must have came in last month. Sweet! Though without pedals we'd have to classify it as a "noped", it still looks cool and I like the fact that it's a 2-stroke. Do we got any performance parts for it yet Larry?

Safety tip #27 - Be sure to check your tire pressure this weekend

Make sure to follow the manufacturer's guidelines (printed on the side) when inflating your tires. Please do NOT over do it. Doing so may result in the the outcome pictured below.




You don't wanna look like you're riding on a set of giant blood sausages.
(thanks for finding the pictures motoblog.it!)

Sad news: Custom chopper builder Billy Lane kills moped rider.

(whadda waste...)

This news from Pete in Florida...

The deadly crash happened about 9 p.m. Monday south of Melbourne Beach and near Ballyshannon Street. Investigators said the impact came after Billy Lane -- a custom motorcycle builder featured on Discovery Channel's "Biker Build-Off" and "Monster Garage" -- crossed a double yellow line to pass two other vehicles.

Lane's custom-painted black Dodge Ram pickup slammed head-on into Gerald Morelock as he rode a moped, officials said...

...Morelock, who was wearing a helmet, was killed instantly in Monday's collision, which the Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. A blood-alcohol test was conducted on Lane and sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement state lab in Orlando for evaluation. Test results, part of the traffic homicide investigation, could take up to eight weeks to return, although agents are asking for the tests to be given priority.

No charges have been filed in the case...

...Byron Morelock described his brother as a sensitive, fun-loving man who had quit his job as a child psychologist because he hated to see children suffer.

"Gerry was just the coolest cat," said Morelock. "He could really make you laugh."

Byron Morelock said he was awakened when police rang his doorbell at 3 a.m. Tuesday morning.

"They told me he was brutally killed," Morelock said. "I was distraught, and the police stayed with me for an hour. They assured me the truth would come out. I just couldn't believe it. We were close."

It's just sad and unfair that someone's impatience, selfishness and blatant disregard for their fellow human cost the life of another.

Biggest Australian Motor Show EVER!

With over 300,000 people expected to attend it's good to know that:

"A new addition inside the Exhibition Hall is the Australian Scooter Federation. The ASF is holding a rally with a demonstration of member’s scooter on a large area in Hall 6."

Woohoo! Go ASF! (But please... no bonfires in the exhibition hall, thanks.)

Prediction - Quarter million hits before October

Woohoo! We're going full steam ahead here at TheScooterScoop.com; quickly approaching the magic QUARTER MILLION HITS mark. At this rate I think we'll be there on October 28th or 29th.

There needs to be some sorta celebration for YOU the loyal reader. That special somebody who visits everyday. That magical someone who tells all their friends to come by and check us out. That beacon in the night that wears "TheScooterScoop" PJs to bed and scribbles our URL on the companies bathroom walls.

*steve's thought balloon*
What will it be? Well... I better think up something. Ugh... I'm not good under pressure... Is it getting hot in here? *gulp*

Kansas City Star - Two-Wheel appeal

Ed kicked up a nice little scooter piece for the Kansas City Star. Worth the read. Here's a sampler:

The love affair with motor scooters runs beyond gas mileage.
By EDWARD M. EVELD
The Kansas City Star

It could be a critical moment for motor scooters.

No doubt we’re buying the heck out of scooters compared with just a few years ago. Colorful and shiny Vespas and Kymcos buzz our boulevards.

So are we on our way to a new motoring look, all European and Asian?

Future gas prices could hold the answer. Or other less tangible issues might. Take the cool factor, for one.

Twenty-year-old Brenna Spurgeon zips to work on her black Vespa, never quite sure if the scene she’s creating is hip or dorky. Not that she cares. But people do smile. Are they laughing?

On a scooter, are you stylishly elegant or a goof who can’t afford regular transportation, like Terry the Toad from “American Graffiti”?

We talked to scooter buyers to see what they were thinking. As we suspected, motor vehicle purchases have to do with a lot of other stuff besides miles-per-gallon — style, psychology, personal history. Here are snippets from those conversations:

Click on the title link to see those snippets.

Tomos gets FunTastic on dat azz

(The FunTastic frolics in the grass with one of his Netherland college hotties)

You wont see this evil Johnny 5 scooterped on your street anytime soon, but at least you know it's available should you ever move to the Netherlands. Click on the title link to see the specs and more photos. Tomos describes it like this:

Driving on helmloze a snorfiets was never as nice as with these FunTastic. The name FunTastic reflects exactly the qualities of these by. Super tough and extremely comfortable by the wide saddle. The new Tomos POWER engine stand guarantor for excellent performances. Deliverable in orange and black.

I've always had a hard time driving on helmloze a snorfiets... so I welcome the FunTastic with open arms. Come to America! Let us sit upon your wide saddle FunTastic!

Honda Vision gets a chopper makeover

(See what happens when you let the Turks have their way with a Honda Vision? You end up with a retail T1 Thunder-Flash Scoot-Chopper.)

There's weird-wild stuff going on in Turkey. Seem that Thunder-Flash is selling production Honda Vision choppers. You can see what's involved here. They've got a well polished site (designed by Rivena) where you can see your T1 in a variety of colors.

The original test unit hit the road in October of 2003 and it didn't take very many kilometers for them to determine that 50cc's just wasn't gonna cut the proverbial mustard. They immediately started stackin' on the Italian performance kits... Mallosi 70cc kit and CDI, LeoVinci SP3 exhaust, Pollini transmission pulleys... Here's how they put it:

T1, produced in Turkey, is the first example of mini-chopper mania which is spreading throughout the world. It's a powerfull, fast, reliable and practical piece of machinery. But unlike it's ancestor, T1 is not a plastic box with wheels on. When going from point A to point B, T1 provides all the parcticalities of a scooter but in style.

So you've got a CTV transmission on a chopped Honda frame that does 50 MPH and get's 60 MPG. Hats off to Carl Gustav in Istanbul for the great effort. I look forward to seeing some video of the T1 in action!

Who wants to be the first to slap a 70cc motor on one of these babies?

(As featured in MakeZine.com and Motoblog.it)

Piaggio MP3 Performs!

(Its like watching a hippo perform in The Nutcracker)

Everyone's favorite 3-wheeled oddity has been making the rounds with invites from Piaggio to come give 'er a spin. Motoblog.it got the scoop of Lorenzo Barons showing the MP3 who's boss. The thing apparently handles like a dream... a dream that could use a double-scoop of engine. The only complaint was that it needed more geddup-and-go.

Click on the title link to see more shots of the MP3 being put through its paces. I wanna turn!

Sign up for Scooter Class in Austin, TX!

(Scooter drawing by Jesus Malo)

Fred Brown, a good friend and organizer of the monthly IDontGiveAShift run is spreading the gospel by holding "The Fun World of Scooters and Mopeds" (featuring special guest ME) informal class at UT. You may not get college credit, but it's a hellalot funner than that Media Law class you had to take.
Here's the word:

Beat the high price of gas by getting around Austin on a scooter or moped. Not only will you save on gas, with a scooter or moped you can have a blast riding around town! They are delightful machines, offering not only an affordable mode of transportation, but also a lot of opportunities to have fun just zipping around.

In this fun course, we will take a look at the history of scooters and see how people have been depending on them to get around town for over a century. You will learn important safety tips and suggestions for purchasing your first scooter or moped.

The class will also include a visit to a local dealer to see all the new and old models of the Vespa, Bajaj and even the large Maxi-Scooter capable of safely keeping up with most conventional motorcycles. Federico Brown and Steve Guzman are avid scooter riders, enjoy riding hundreds of miles most warm weekends in the hill country on their Maxi Scooter and are contributors to a scooter and moped blog that delivers latest in moter-scooter news. (1 meeting and 1 Field Trip)

September 14 and Saturday, September 16, 2006. Sign-up at:
https://informalclasses.org

If yer thinking about taking the scooter plunge it might be worth your while to check it out. Click on the title link for the course description.

Scootering Across the Country

By John Kelly Washington Post Metro columnist.
Somewhere in the middle of Wyoming, roommates Mike Garrett and Rob Downs may come to question the wisdom of their journey.

Crossing the continental United States on a Vespa and a Lambretta ? Those nippy little scooters more associated with the narrow, congested streets of Rome than the vast, yawning spaces of America?

Rob Downs, left, will ride a Lambretta and Mike Garrett will ride a Vespa from Oregon to New York in the Scooter Cannonball, which begins Sunday.
Rob Downs, left, will ride a Lambretta and Mike Garrett will ride a Vespa from Oregon to New York in the Scooter Cannonball, which begins Sunday.

But they cannot be dissuaded, and Sunday in Pacific City, Ore., they will straddle their machines and point them east, destination Coney Island, N.Y., 3,500 miles away. With them will be 30 other scooter riders.

Make that "scooterists."

"There's a difference between scooterists and people who ride scooters," said Rob, a 30-year-old Navy vet who works on the Department of Labor's Web site. "Some people just own and ride scooters. If someone's referred to as a scooterist, that means he does scooter rallies and likes hanging out with other people who have a shared interest in this hobby."

Click the title link to read the who story on the Cannonball Run.
Pop a tire Jim! (scooter equivalent to "break a leg")

More Ape for you!

If you're a fan of Piaggio's Ape, and you live in Europe, you'll be happy to know the Ape Classic is back. This sexy 422cc diesel sweetheart will tow 1,763 pounds of weight (about seven P200's!)

Here's one more shot for the road... Anyone wanna import these into the USA? You know you want one!

Another Buddy review in. Verdict? Sweet! (again)

(Notice how the "ear ring blinkers" under the handle bars are gone? They were one of Key's few complaints that were easily removed.)

Keys, a one-time Bajaj rider over at Skutergruven finally traded it in for a black Genuine Buddy (hauling it 100+ miles with the Buddy in the back seat of his convertible Chrysler Sebring if you can imagine THAT!) and after a few minor mods he took it to the road.

The Good? Zippy! Nice fit & finish. Impressive storage for a tiny scoot. Easy to work on.

The bad? After only 25 miles a loose bowl drain screw in the carb fell out and created a major gas dump. Had to rig it until the replacement screw came in a week later.

Since he got it, Key's has taken his new baby on a 320 mile jaunt around the Arizona outback with nary a problem and plans on riding the Fall Classic this November.

Looks like Genuine has a winner on its hands!

Maxed up, tuned up... Scooters???

That's a quote from the host. It's a fun watch. Lot's-o-Dragster luvin'.

The Battle for CC Supremacy is ON!

Back in 2003 Suzuki broke all the rules and introduced the scooter worlds FIRST touring (mega) scooter, the Burgman 650. The Burgman is one of the most popular modern scooters in America due to its large displacement and it's even more popular in Europe where the line includes a 125cc and 250cc version.

Well, Suzuki has owned the title of Largest Scooter for quite some time, but the heat is on. You can bet that by the end of 2007 you're gonna see someone take that title unless Suzuki kicks it up a notch.

Who are the players? First off we have Kymco. Yes they've FINALLY introduced the 500cc Xciting in the USA and it's promising, but to steal the title they're gonna have to go forth with their plans for a 700cc version (April reported on this back in June). Whether or not it will be an upgrade to the Xciting or a whole new design like the super cool Oberdan Bezzi "Bikester" is yet to be seen. From what I hear that design is still waiting to be claimed and is designed to be a 700-800cc scoot. Do it Kymco! Bring out the Bikster! (A more recent Bikester article with Bezzi write up can be seen here.)

Next in line, trumping a 700cc Kymco offering would be a Mega Scooter from Piaggio - The Gilera (read: Won't see in the USA). Dudel, gave us a scoop "photo" of this new hotness (seen below). As Dudel states, please take this image with a grain of salt. We've nearly fallen for a "scanned magazine report" once before. Looking at this image of the Nexus 850 is enough to make even the hardest classic scooter elitist drool. Check out the rough translation after the photo.

GILERA NEXUS the 850 range Nexus would have to be become larger with the intruduzione of a true one maxi: the matore that pushes it could be corposissimo the V90 Piaggio (equipped of electtronica management of the transmissione). The design, abundantly see again would trace that one of the family of scooter the Gilera. Between novita 2007 piu marked interesting Gilera: soto the reflectors a mega scooter pushed from bicylindrical to V90 850cc endowed Piaggio presumablly of the automatic transmission the head on the Iron. Stiff and abondanti shapes and a look aggressive like those of the scooter of farmiglia its particuliarita one.

Which sums up as 850cc, 90 degree twin cylinder, electronic transmission that you'll never have the joy of placing your butt on (prove me wrong Piaggio!). I can't make anything else useful outta that.

So, who else is scheduled to break the 650cc record? How about BMW? They've been pretty hush hush lately. I know Oberdan Bezzi had a design up his sleeve for a BMW S 850 RT. If they actually make it is one thing and if they bring it to the USA would be a whole 'nother thing.
There is also the Victory Vision 800, but I still think calling it a scooter is a REAL stretch.

So, who's gonna do it? Who will be the first to break 650cc? We'll serve up the scoop as soon as it's out of the oven!